I couldn't get over the tiresome switch from the adrenaline-pumping action of shooting rival families to suddenly having to play a game of Risk. [Nov. 2006, p.122]

Buy WPT if you watch poker; buy "World Championship Poker 2" if you <I>play</I> poker. [Jan 2006, p.95]

Matches are still way too slow most of the time. Aiming issues make your wrestlers look clownish when they attempt to start a throw and instead just swing at air. And worst of all, tag-team partners--the bane of any wrestling game--are still dumb as dirt and simply don't do what they're told.

For the rest of us [non-Yu-Gi-Oh! fans], it's a passable strategy RPG. [Jan 2005, p.107]

Although Darkstalkers doesn't really possess a level of depth that hardcore fighting fans can appreciate, there's still an inherent layer of novelty in playing an arcade-quality fighting game on the go. [June 2005, p.100]

The result is a few moments of fright and a whole lot of trial and error, backtracking, and head-scratching frustration. [Sept 2004, p.97]

In the ring, inconsistencies abound-weird collision detection, random selling, neutered submission moves, and A.I. that revolves between timid and simply schizoid.

To put it succinctly, World Tour Soccer 2005 doesn't match the quality of a certain other soccer game named "Winning Eleven." Yet on its own, it's actually a solid game with no serious problems - but it's also nothing spectacular. [May 2004, p.102]

I'll admit it's nice to play as a girl instead of watching one prance around the ring for the boys. Unfortunately, the experience bogs down amidst the sex appeal; for a game with such an overage of cleavage, it's ironic that after a couple hours, Rumble Roses starts to feel flat.

Like the previous games, it'll satisfy fans of the franchise while being nigh-impenetrable to others. [Oct 2003, p.126]

To put it simply, there are so many small fundamental problems--the passing feels stiff and has some weird bugs that cause the ball to fly off in random directions (not to mention the fact that the AI, while mostly consistent, does have a tendency to cheat a little bit when intercepting passes, at least more than any human opponent would).

Fans of the series will no doubt dig the new features, but Alter Code: F remains simply decent. [Jan 2006, p.96]

It&#146;s awesome that you can block enemy attacks with timed button presses&#133;but not when you fight the same boring enemies over and over! [Feb 2002, p.114]

The races are boring...There's just no drama to the thing, and even once you've cranked your Mitsubishi crapbox up to 400 hp, you still don't feel the power. [Oct 2004, p.100]

While Romance IX is a more newbie-friendly game, it still has a bit of a learning curve, and the absense of tactical control prevents it from being a breakout strategy title. [Apr 2004, p.100]

It's fun for a few hours or as a nice diversion for two-player matches. Hardcore Harry fans will want it for their collections; the rest of us will marvel at the fact that it really is just like the books...and then go play something else.

The word "frustrating" doesn't even begin to describe it. [Apr 2002, p.108]

It's not bad, but the whole experience is so deeply familiar that it's hard to muster excitement for the new PSP features. [Dec. 2006, p.130]

The fan in me can't help but like this game. Despite some questionable A.I. and repetitive attack animations (surprisingly brutal for a Teen rating), the Stealth mode (activated by awkwardly holding down L2 - another control issue) presents a genuinely cool graphic effect similar to thermal vision. [June 2003, p.108]

Just like a fine chalupa meal at Taco Bell, you're getting exactly what you paid for, no more, no less.

The only people who are going to enjoy this game are the die-hard fans of its source material. [Jan 2003, p.136]

Despite the decent controls, you still end up seeing the same four-hit combos repeatedly, and when digital Jet holds a stick or a bat in his hand, it becomes mysteriously harder to hit people with it. [Mar 2004, p.101]

It's a bite-size nugget of nostalgia and mindless fun. [Feb 2006, p.77]

It's a psychotic, disjointed, almost loveable mess. [Dec. 2006, p.130]

It's just too bad that the shoot-'em up gameplay setting things up is so generic. [Nov 2002, p.188]

A surprisingly solid movie-licensed title--despite its somewhat odd use of a balled-up Charlize Theron.

The gameplay is a bit awkward and quite repetitive, but no game has captured the feel of Dragon Ball Z quite like this. [Jan 2006, p.92]

If you enjoy puzzle solving and are looking for a way to kill an afternoon, there are worse ways you could spend your time. [Feb 2004, p.102]

Unfortunately, slick powers, moderately competent A.I., and amusing deathtraps can't save Rogue Agent from being bland, linear, and repetitive - it tends to give too much of the mediocre and not enough of the awesome. [Feb 2005, p.88]

Doesn't really offer the same visceral thrill as something like "Guitar Hero" or even any of the "DDR" games. [Apr 2006, p.82]

This could be the only PlayStation game I've ever played that uses almost every button except X. Not a big deal, but worth noting. [Feb 2004, p.101]

The framerate here bogs down so much that it actually hampers gameplay. And there's no excuse for that - Emperor's Tomb isn't doing anything PS2 can't handle. [Aug 2003, p.98]

If you can get past the basic setup, a great, pure role-playing adventure awaits. [Feb 2002, p.114]

So there you have it: a typical Japanese RPG. With pets. [July 2006, p.85]

The manual camera constantly begs for your attention, never where you want it to be. Probably great fun for "Dynasty Warriors" fans.

More than a knockoff, less than original. [Oct 2005, p.102]

The game looks surprisingly dated. [Feb 2003, p.99]

There's enough content to keep puzzle fans busy, but expect plenty of frustration, too. [May 2005, p.96]

The expanded table and wacky ideas are great, but it's the novel stuff that wears thin first. [Aug 2005, p.83]

One has to wonder if Live 06's mostly cosmetic changes are worth $50 this year. [Nov 2005, p.115]

A feast for creative quirk-seekers; a famine for lazy mainstreamers. [Dec 2005, p.130]

Other than the stylish cel-shaded visuals, there's hardly anything new here... Seriously, I haven't seen camera problems this bad since the early days of PS1. [Nov 2003, p.138]

The quarterbacks in GameDay take too damn long to throw the ball! [Nov 2002, p.196]

There's not a hint of originality here. [Nov 2002, p.192]

It's strictly for armchair racers that crave variety over substance. [Mar 2006, p.90]

An above average PS One title. [Oct 2002 p.151]

At its very best, Dirge of Cerberus is an average action game with RPG elements, nice ideas, and a decent fan service. [Sept 2006, p.80]

One of the largest kid games to hit the market - in essence, it's an E-rated "GTA." [Jan 2005, p.107]

"NBA 2K2" is still the obvious choice for basketball fans. But 2Night's stock remains on the rise. [May 2002, p.99]

More of the same, but not quite as good, with crappy minigames and a framerate that's more offensive than calling your political foe a putzhead. [Jan 2003, p.132]

Unlike most licensed games, Project Zoo doesn't suck, but alas, it's just an unremarkable game. [Nov 2003, p.147]

A big, fat disappointment...SpyHunter 2 simply lacks any soul.

Avatar shows flashes of brilliance at first, but sadly those don't last long enough to sustain the entire game. [Jan. 2007, p.88]

Should actually be called "Headhunter: Generally Good Like the Last One But Still Pretty Flawed." [Nov 2004, p.120]

A huge, solid game that's seriously crippled by an unworkable control scheme. [July 2005, p.78]

Besides the rosters, this is the exact same game as last year. [July 2003, p.97]

The most challenging poker game yet - so newbies beware! [Jan 2006, p.95]

It's a simple game--so simple that it's really not good for anyone over the age of 9 or 10--but it's not bad, and the way it's structured makes it perfect for parents to jump in and out to help when kids get stuck.

I feel greatly disappointed by the lack of polish that could have made it a killer title. [August 2002, p.108]

The technical faults of this shoddy port put a big fat smudge on an otherwise great game. [June 2002, p.98]

A solid, if limited, dance title... If Rhythm n' Groove has another 15 or 20 songs, DDR might have something to worry about. [June 2003, p.107]

The naval engagements look sharp, with some nice water effects and a lot of action, but the combat seems like dumbed-down real-time strategy. [Mar 2003, p.108]

Subject to much refinement, and while it still can't compete with the competition, 989 Sports has created a surprisingly solid all-around basketball game. [Dec 2003, p.183]

All the time that could've gone into presentation and perfect control instead went to giving gamers an immense ammount of baseball. [Jully 2006, p.84]l

Avatar shows flashes of brilliance at first, but sadly those don't last long enough to sustain the entire game. [Jan. 2007, p.88]

Neither heavenly nor hellish. [May 2005, p.94]

A decent racer that doesn't come close to fulfilling its potential. Still, it's currently the only choice for rally racing on the PSP. [Apr 2006, p.89]

Overall, the mechanics are OK, though the camera is kind of unwieldy. But very frankly, that probably won't matter all that much to the target audience.

In spite of the lackluster design, Zero is, if nothing else, another addition to the barren landscape of flight games on the PS2. [Jun 2006, p.95]

It's extremely awkward. [Oct 2002, p.148]

The problem is, right out of the gate, the career mode makes things way more boring than it needs to be. [March 2005, p.95]

Could've been a good RPG intro for kids, but bad save and leveling systems cripple it. [Aug 2006, p.81]

If you're going to play a squad-based shooter, why play this one when you could pop in one that's more interesting? [Dec 2005, p.130]

Both utterly forgettable and strangely addictive, the ultra-simple hack-n-slash model works surprisingly well in a portable format. [May 2005, p.111]

The only aspect of the game helping it avoid becoming a complete disaster are the arenas. [Jan 2005, p.106]

What keeps the title afloat is collecting items, snapping pictures, and building up your character. It actually becomes mildly addictive. [Mar 2003, p.103]

The game's simplicity makes this a questionable choice for anyone over 8, but young kids will likely enjoy it. [Jan 2005, p.106]

Provides precious little depth, but as a way of getting the kids up out of their seats, the collection works nearly as well. [Jan 2005, p.106]

You can't save until you beat a level. Having to conquer a tough boss before being able to save any progress at all will irritate anyone with a social life. [Oct 2003, p.119]

The most obvious letdown: the drab, blocky graphics. It's so dull that it even out-uglies some of the first-generation PS2 crap. [Dec 2002, p.162]

Novices can string combinations together within moments of picking up the controller, regardless of their familiarity with the series, but there's not much depth for fighting fans to plumb. [Dec 2004, p.118]

In the end, if you're got a fellow strategy fan sitting within a 30-meter radious of you, then you can have a fine old time with Open Warfare. But, if not, you're unlikely to get more than a rental's worth of gameplay out of it. [Jun 2006, p.102]

Rush ain't ugly; it's just rather unimpressive. [June 2002, p.103]

When the strategic squad combat works, it's neat... The strategic squad combat rarely works. [May 2005, p.106]

A surprisingly solid platformer that fans of the genre will definitely enjoy. [June 2002, p.101]

Tourist Trophy started as a sort of side project for Polyphony Digital, and it was driven by some members who are hardcore bike racing fanatics. The problem is, that's exactly what the game feels like--some sort of half-baked mission pack for GT4. [Jun 2006, p.96]

It's just plain wacky. [Oct 2002, p.146]

Its presentation and story make it respectable, nonetheless. [Dec 2001, p.162]

I eked a few enjoyable play sessions out of One the Loose, but the camera-control difficulties prompted me to ditch it for "Lumines." [June 2005, p.101]

The only real draw here is the startingly robust level-creation tool. [July 2006, p.82]

The story is like a bag of bricks I had to heave along as I slogged my way forward...What a disappointment. [Dec 2002, p.172]

The game is technically sound, but inferior track design keeps this one from the greatness of its predecessors.

Pros: Beautiful art, unique team mechanic. Cons: Repetitious battles, poor A.I., slowdown. [March 2005, p.101]

I can't help feeling like the game would have benefited from another six months or so of development. [Nov 2002, p.192]

There are no previews of song titles, so it's hard to keep track of what you've done and what you haven't. [Feb 2005, p.87]

Ultimately, Getting Up's most serious problem is that it's so damn serious. There's none of the anarchic joy found in "Jet Set Radio." [Apr 2006, p.83]

While much more user-friendly than previous iterations, RPG Maker 3 is still a hell of a lot of work. [Nov 2005, p.101]

While that addictive quality that the best games of this genre have is missing, Frantix isn't a bad way to waste time. [Oct 2005, p.108]